Lens-grinding machine.



B. F. CLARK.

LENS GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

-I ii I F -fghi ///////A Wijf/mmmnnn B. P. CLARK.

LENS GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lAPR. 9, 1907.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

/I/ of e To all 'whom 'it may concern: v i

einen s'infrnrirnnr BENNETT F. CLARK, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR TO THESSTANDARD OPTICAL COMPANY, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK..

LENS-amministra amc Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

Application mea April a, 1907. serial No. 367,219.

Be itknown that l, BENNETT F. CLARK, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Lens-Grinding Machines, of which'the following, taken in connectionwith the accom anying drawings, is aull, clear, and exact escription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in lens grinding machines and refers 'more particularly to the mechanism associated with a rotary grinding element for grinding .the e'dges of lenses to conform to a definite pattern or form. In this class of4 machines 'the lens to be ground is clamped between two rotary elements and moved axially in contact with the surface of a rotary grinding element by which it is ground into conformity with a suitable form or pate .tern revolving on the same axis in contact with a stop or abutment. The mechanism therefore, involves a rotary lens holder; means tomove it axially; additional means for bringi'n the lens to a predetermined form, 'and igurther means for adjusting the contact plate or abutment to compensate'for the wear of the grinding element. A

, The essential. urpose of my present invention is to simpify and reduce the cost of manufacture ofthe machine, at the same time to increase its efficiency. and bring the several parts into closer relation, making the complete machine morecompact and'less susceptible -to being thrown out of ad'ustment o'r alinement. In other words, I ave sought to increase the durability and permanency of alinement of' the lens holding elements and co-acting parts, so that the machine as a whole will effect the grinding ofthe lenses into exact conformity with the pattern or masterform, at the same time providing for the grinding of a reasonably wide range of diierent forms of lenses;

One of the most important specific features 'of the invention is the means by whichthe lens is clamped and yieldinglyheld in place' in which a Asinglecoil sprin coacting with a suitable nut serves the oub.y e purpose of a jthreadffor' adjusting one ofthe lens clamps and yieldingly ho ding it in'contact with the lens. p l g j Another speci'iic object is to `p'rc'ivide a sifmvple means, consistingin this instance,`.of a heart cam coac'tng with suitablegshoulders upon `a sliding frame to reciprocat'esaid= its travel thereby wearing the surface of the grinding element uniformly. A further object is to adjust the Contact plate for the pattern or lens form in an exact radial line between the axes of the revolving lens and grinding element.

A still further object is to provide asimple graduated adjusting means for the contact plate to determine the size of the lens which -is to be ground to the form of the pattern.

Other objects and uses will be brought out 1n the following description.

in the drawings- Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top plan and a i'ront elevationfof 'a lens grinding machine embodying the various features of my invention, lthe base of the 'niachine shown in Fig. 2 being partly in section to show the reciprocating means forthe slidin carriage. Figs.' 3, 4 and 5 are longitudina sectional views taken respectively o'n lines 3 3 and 4-4, Fig. 1, and 5.-5,',Fig. 2.

Fig. 6' is a horizontal sectional view taken respectively on line -6-, Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a .sectional view taken on line 7 7, Fig. 2.

This device is adapted to be-assoeiated v with a rotary grinding element as -a grindstone A- and comprises essentially a sliding carriage --1-4 movin parallel with the axis of the grind-stone an carrying a rotar' lens holder and a lens form or pattern, bot revolving on the same axis and adapted to be adjusted radially to bring the edge of 'th'e lens into contact with t he,periphery` o'f the stone, the peri hery of the pattern revolving in contact wit a sto or abutment whichis adjustable in a radial ine drawn between the axes of the lens holders and grind-stone.

The sliding carriage --1,- is reciprocated alongvsitable. guides 2f on a ixed b'ed -43- by means, as a rotary heart (mmf-'4+- and a retracting spring-5*, the cam 4.- being mounted on the carriage and havingl its heart-shape perimeter rotating 'in Contact with a fixed abutment as a pi11 -6--l on t e bed ,-3.- while the spring J--5- is attached. at oneend to. the slidr'n `carriage-and its opposite end is attached toa-suitable anchor anchor rod `being adjustable 4in the bed to v vary the tension ofvthe spring as may be desired. It is now obvious that the heartcam .-4 actuatesthe carriage. in one direction the same time maintaining Contact between frame under a uniform'speedat all poi-nts. in'afthe fixed stop `--6 v and perimeter of 'the cam. This cam is preferably secured to the under side of a worm gear -8- which in turn ismounted upon a vertical spindle 9 the latter being j ournaled in a bearing -10- on the carriage 1-.

The worm gear -8- is driven by a' lworm .1-1- on a revolving shaft -12-, the latter being rovidedy with a pulle 13 adapted to e rotated by any suita le power not necessary to herein illustrate or describe.

The driving shaft -.12- is journaled in op osed bearings 14-f'and 15 on the shdlingl carriage -1' and is movable endwise t erein against the action of the spring -16- the worm -11- being interposed between the bearings 14- and -15- which hold it against endwise movement and is rovided 1n one end with recesses 18- orming a clutch face adapted to be engaged by one or more shoulders -19- on the shaft f The spring -16- is interposed between the lbearing.-14- and a shoulder 20- on the adjacent end of the shaft -12- and tends to force the shaft endwise toward the left of Fig.v '3 to normally throw and hold the clutch shoulder '19- lnto the recess -18 when the machine is in operation but these clutch sections are adapted to he disengaged when the machine is not in use in a manner hereinafter described to permit the continued rotation of the pulley 13- without rotating the worm -1 1- or parts actuated thereby. Secured to the drivin shaft --12-l and preferably at one end of t e worm -1 1- is a pinion -21- meshing with a gear -22- Which is rigid on a shaft 23- running lengthwise of the machine parallel with an in a plane above the shaft -12-. s

The ear 4--22- is located at one end of the sha t -23- which is provided on its oppsite end with a second gear -24- of the same pitch as the gear ;22-. These gears -22- and 24- mesh respectively with similar larger gears -25- and -26-, the gear 25- bemgsecured to aspindle 27- and the gear 2G-,secured to a similar but separate spindle -28-, said spindles -27- and 2S-- and also the gears -25 and Z6-- having co-incident axes. A

The spindles -27- and 28- are arran ed end to end in exact alinement with eac other, the spindle -28- being rotatable in suitable bearings -29- and 1s fixed from endwise movement, while the spindle 27 isrotatable in suitable bearings 30- and is adjustable axially by means of a nut -31-.- and a spiral thread -32-, consisting in this instance, of a coil s ring encircling the shaft and having one en secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as pins -33-, the opposite end of said s ring thread abuttin against a revoluble s eeve 34- in the a jacent bearing -30.

The nut 3ipreferably consists of a sleeve encircling the spring thread -32- and ortion of the spindle -27-- between the earings S0-A, said sleeve havin a threaded aperture in which is inserte a screw -36- having its inner end interposed and adapted to ride between adjacent helices of the spri thread -32-, as best seen in Fig. 3, said s eeve also being provided with a knurled hand wheel S7-- b which it may be rotated to move the spin le -27- endwise.

The gear -25- is preferably secured to the rotary sleeve'--34- which, in turn, is feathered u on the s indle -27- to rotate therewith, ut is he d from endwise movement by suitable shoulders -40- and a set screw 4410', which also serves to hold the ear' -25-- against axial movement and eys the gear and sleeve 34- to the shaft -27.

The inner end of the sleeve `'---34- affords a suitable abutment for the adjacent end of the spring threadl -32- so that the spindle -27-, spring thread -32-, and nut 31- all rotate together, although the nut 3lhas an independent rotary movement to move the spmdle --27- endwise through the medium of the screw shoulder -36- Y which engages the helicesY of the spring thread B2- The lens as -a is held between clamping heads -41- and 42" on th'e meeting ends of the spindles -27- and -28-, each having a yielding contact face -43- of rubber or equivalent material adhesively secured thereto, to more firmly grip and hold lenses of different thicknesses and contours without liability of breaking or otherwise marring the same. This yielding grip of the clampin elements -41- and 42- upon the lens 1s further aided by means of 'the spring S2-5 the tension of which may be increased at will by simply rotating the sleeve or nut -31- in the same direction of rotation as the lens clampin elements 4land 42- and their spin( les -27- and -28- as will vbe evident u on reference to the pitch of the helices of t e coil spring --32* seen in Fig. 3.

These lenses `are usually elliptical or oval shape but of different sizes or axial dimensions and in order that they may be ground to a predetermined form and size, I provide the spindle -28 with a suitable masterformvor pattern -46- which is clamped or detachably secured to the outer end of the spindle by suitable clampi 0' screws -47-, pms -48 whereby it is rmly locked to the spindle -28- with its periphery adapted to bear upon or revolve against a contact plate -49- havin a contact face ,-50- arranged in a circu ar arc concentric with the axis of the grind-stone -A- and of the same or approximately the same radius as the grind-stone.

The shaft 23 is' journaled in bearings 17- upon the carriage 1 and the bearings 29 and 30 are mounted upon and form a part of a rocking frame 51 which is pivotally mounted or journaled upon the intermediate portion. of the shaft 23 between the bearings 17- to permit the u per portion of the frame, carrying the lens elders and lens pattern, to be rocked toward and from the periphery of the grind-stone and contact plate 49 against the action of a retracting spring 53 The master-former pattern-M may be ef any desired contour according to the shape of the lens which it may be desired to roduce and the contact face 50 whic is ada ted to be engaged by the periphery of vthe ens form 46 is not only concentric with the axis but adjustable radially of the grind-stone, the size of the lens depending upon the size of the masterform or pattern en and also upon the relative position of theicontact vface 50 with reference to the axis of the grind-stone, that is by varying the radius of the concentric contact face 50- so as to be greater or less than that ofV of the grind-stone, the lens will be ground yeither smaller or larger than the masterform or pattern, or when such radii are equal thel iinlshed lens will be the same size as the pattern.

The contact plate 49 is secured to an arm 60 on a non-rotatable sliding rod 6'1 which is guided in suitable bearings 62 and 63- on the carriage 1 the front end of said rod being threaded and engaged by a suitable nut 64- having graduations 65 upon its riphery corresponding to the pitch of thet ead and adapt- `ed to be brought into registration with a fixed graduation on the bearing-GS- so that by a predetermined degree of rotation' of the nut 64 the contact face 50 of the plate 49 will be shifted radially of the grind-stone a predetermined distance, thereby causing the lens to be ground to the predetermined axial dimensions required.

The rod 61 and parts connected there- .to are forced endwise in one direction by sirable to disconnect the driving mechanism and pulley 13 and its shaft 12 from the worm 11 thereby stopping all parts deriving motien from the shaft l2- and allowing free rotation of the drivin element, and for this purpose l provide the ower side of the rocking frame 51 with a pendent cam which, when the frame is rocked away from the grindstone the contact plate 49 rides against the adjacent end face of the shoulder 20 thereon and forces the shaft 12 endwise against the action of the s ring 16 to dlsengage the clutch shoul ers l9- from the ad'acent clutch face of the worm 1 1 in whic position the said shaft is held until the rocking frame 51 is returned to its grinding position.

The nut 64 is preferably made of inner and outer concentric sections relatively adjustable about their axis to compensate for wear of the grindstone, and when adjusted, are locked together by a set-screw 64 Assuming that the lens holders 41- and 42 are separated a sufficient distance apart; the rough or unfinished lens, as ar/ is inserted by hand between the yielding grip ing plates 43- on the clamping hea s 41 yand 42 reasonable care being taken to have the longer axis of the lens in about the same position as the long axis of the form or pattern 46 and with the center of the lens nearly coincident with the axis of the spindles 27 and 2S- whereupon the nut 31- is rotated by hand inengagement with the spring screw 32 to force the spindle 27 endwise toward the spindle 28 vuntil the lens, is.

firml im in ed between the i in faces of thi; clalinpglngheads, it beingg: Iliiiddgistood that the' lens-form or pattern has been clamped to the end of the spindle 28 and that the contact plate 49 has been properly adjusted b the rotation ofthe nut 64 to ive t e desired size and form to the finishe lens.v The frame 51 is then rocked rearwardly to bring the edge of the lens against the periphery of the grlnd-stone I A againstv which' it is yieldingly held by the spring 53 'When the frame 51 is thus thrown into action its cam 75 is disengaged from the shoulder 20-- on the adjacent end of the shaft 12- allowing the spring 16- to return the shaft to its normal osition thereby throwing the clutch 19 m operative connection .with the adacent end ofthe worm 11 from which atter reciprocal motion is transmitted to the carriage 1 by means of the heart cam 4 and' in 6 whilethe rotary motion is imparte to the spindles 27 and |28 through the medium of the gears 21 and 22 24, 25 and 26.

It will be observed that practically all of the bearings for the rotary members are equipped with suitable wearing sleeves of v brass or other suitable material ada ted to be removed when Worn and replaced' y. new ones. It will also b e observed that each spindle 2Z and 28 is driven by separate sets of gears, that is the spindle is driven by the gears -22- and- '425- while the spindle -28- is driven by the gears 24- and -26- through the mediumof the shaft -23-, and in as much as each set of gears are of the same relative pitchfboth spindles are rotated positively atexactly the same speed.

What I claim is:

1. In a lens forming machine, the combination with a rotary grindin element, rotary lens clamps and supports t erefor movable back and forth across the face of the grindstone, means for eecting such back and forth movement, a yielding thread and a nut engaged therewith for adjusting one of the clamfps toward and from the other clamp, a

orm rotating with one of the clamps and a contactplate forthe lens form adjustable in a straight line toward and from the axis of the lens form.

vv2. In a machine` for forming lenses, the combination with a rotary grinding element, a rotary lens holder and actuating means therefor, additional means for moving the lens holder across the face of the grinding element, a lens form rotating with the lens holder, a contact piece for the lens form, and

eans including a non-rotatablsliding rod for adjusting the contact piecein a straight line radially of the lens form and a spring pressing the rod in one direction.

3. In a machine for grinding the edges of lenses, co-axial rotary lens clamps and rotating means therefor, separate means for adjusting one'of the lens clamps toward and from the other, a lens form rotating with said lens clamps, a contact piece for the lens form,

and means including a nut for adjusting the contact piece in a straight line radial of the lens form, said nut being composed of two concentric parts, one of which is adjustable about its axis relatively to the other, and means for locking said parts together.

4. In a lens grinding machine of the class described, in combination with a rotary grinding element, a rotary lens holder and driving means therefor, a lens form co-axial With the lens holder and revolving therewith, a bearing fory the lens form concentric with the axis of the grindstone, and adjustable in a direct line lbetween the axis of sald grin ding element and lens-form, and means including a sliding rod andispring for adjusting said bearing.

5. In a len s grinding machine of the class described, in combination with aY grinding element, a rotary lens holder movable parallel with and toward and from the axis ofthe grinding element, a lens form co-axial and rotating with the lens holder', a bearing for the lens form, a sliding support for the bearing and having a screw threaded end, and a rotary graduated adjusting nut engaging said threaded end for moving the sliding support endwise in one direction, and a spring or forcing said rod in the opposite direction.

6. In a lens grinding machine of vthe character described, in combination with a rotary grinding element, a rotary lens holder movable across and toward and from the face of the rinding element, means to rotate the lens older, a lens form co-axial and rotating with the lens holder, a bearing for the lens form concentric with the axis of the grindin element, a sliding support for the bearing an vhaving a threaded end, a spring for moving the support in one direction, and a rotary adjusting nut engaging said threaded end for moving the support against the action of the s ring and provided with Graduations to inlcate the osition of the bearing relatively to the lens orm.

7. In a lens grinding machine of the character described in combination with a grinding element, separate co-axial lens clamps, and means for rotating the same, a contact plate co-axial and rotating with the lens clamps, a bearing for the ,lens form, and means including a spiral spring thread and nut engaged therewith for adjusting one of the clamps axially.

8. In a lens grinding machine of the character described, separate rotary co-axial lens clamps and actuating means therefor, in

and means for rotatlng the same,y lens clamps on the meeting ends of the spindles, a coil spring encircling and attached at one end to one of the spindles, a hand rotated element encircling the spring and provided with a shoulder engaging the helices of the spring for adjusting the adjacent spindle axially under a yielding pressure.

10. In alens grinding machine of the character described, co-axial rotary spindles arranged end to end, one of said spindles being adjustable axially relatively to the other s indle, lens clamps on the meeting ends of tiie spindles, and means including a spiral s ring thread encircling the adjustable spine, and secured at one end thereto, and a hand rotated element encircling said spring and provided with means engaged therewith and Inovablealong the helices to move the adjustable spindle .axially under a yielding pressure.

1 1. InI a lens grinding machine oi the character described, separate rotary co-axial s indles arranged end to end, lens clamps on the meeting ends of the spindles, means for driving the spindles at the same rate of s eed, a spiral spring attached to and encirc 'ng one'of the spindles, a sleeve rotatable independently of the spindles and provided with a shoulder riding against and Valong the helices of the spring whereby the corresponding spindle may be moved axially toward and from the ot er spindle to clamp the lens under -elding pressure.

12. n a machine. of the character described, a rotary lens clamp adjustable axially, means to lrotate said clamp, separate means including a s iral spring thread and nut for forcing said c amp endWise.

13. In a lens grinding machine of the character described, a rotary lens .holder and rocking su prt therefor, .driving means for the lens brought intoy action by the rocking of the support in one directlon for breaking the older, .and additional means a connection between the driving means and lens holder.

14. In a lens grinding machine of the character described, a rotary lens holder and -a rocking su ort therefor, driving means for the lens holdbr including a clutch adapted to be thrown into and out of action, and means on the support for throwing said clutch out of action When the support is rocked in Aone a5 direction.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of A ril 1907.

BEN ETT F. CLARK. Witnesses:

J. W. WHITWELL, P. B. ROGERS. 

